BEIJING: China on Wednesday requested help from several countries to rescue 39 people who were on board a Chinese fishing boat which sank in the Indian Ocean, state media reported here.
Thirty-nine people, including 17 Chinese crew members17 Indonesians and five Filipinos were on board the Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the central Indian Ocean on Tuesday, he said.
So far, none of the missing people have been found and a search is ongoing, according to the report.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has contacted relevant departments in Australia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries to assist in search and rescue operations, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all possible efforts to rescue those missing in the boat tragedy.
Xi issued the instruction following the incident at around 3 a.m. Tuesday, urging relevant departments to immediately activate the emergency response mechanism.
Xi called for coordinating international maritime search and rescue assistance and doing everything possible to carry out rescue operations, according to the report.
The Foreign Ministry and relevant embassies overseas should strengthen contacts with relevant local parties to coordinate search and rescue work, Xi said.
He also ordered to strengthen security risk early warning alerts for distant maritime operations to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also called for maximum efforts to coordinate relevant parties to organize rescue work and reduce casualties, he added.
Thirty-nine people, including 17 Chinese crew members17 Indonesians and five Filipinos were on board the Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the central Indian Ocean on Tuesday, he said.
So far, none of the missing people have been found and a search is ongoing, according to the report.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has contacted relevant departments in Australia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries to assist in search and rescue operations, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all possible efforts to rescue those missing in the boat tragedy.
Xi issued the instruction following the incident at around 3 a.m. Tuesday, urging relevant departments to immediately activate the emergency response mechanism.
Xi called for coordinating international maritime search and rescue assistance and doing everything possible to carry out rescue operations, according to the report.
The Foreign Ministry and relevant embassies overseas should strengthen contacts with relevant local parties to coordinate search and rescue work, Xi said.
He also ordered to strengthen security risk early warning alerts for distant maritime operations to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also called for maximum efforts to coordinate relevant parties to organize rescue work and reduce casualties, he added.
